Hockey Blog Beat – December 2, 2011.

The NHL Week That Was…Tracking the NHL award candidates at the quarter-mark…Pavel Bure inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame…Detroit Red Wings trade rumors…Cory Sarich wants out of Calgary…Jarome Iginla to Montreal?…What will the Oilers do with Ales Hemsky?…A look at the early days of Kirk Muller’s tenure as Hurricanes head coach…The important of Kyle Wellwood.

GRANTLAND: Katie Baker looks at a wild week (three coaching changes, Bobby Ryan rumors) that was in the NHL.

RED LIGHT DISTRICT: tracks the early candidates for the NHL’s 2011-12 awards, with two Bruins and an ex-Bruin leading the charge.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anyone else feel the Hockey Hall of Fame should be ashamed of itself for not inducting Bure yet? Pretty sad when the IIHF recognizes greatness over the NHL …er, sorry…”Hockey Hall of Fame”. Since this is the same bunch that snubbed a dying Pat Burns, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: For the life of me, I cannot understand the hard-on some rumor bloggers have for linking Alexander Semin to the Red Wings. That’s not a shot against Nightmare On Helm Street, by the way, they’re only pointing out Semin’s been mentioned as a trade possibility for Detroit. Seriously, why would Wings GM Ken Holland, one of the wisest GMs in the league, look at an overpaid under-achiever like Semin and think, “Hey, he’d be a great fit on our team!” Do these rumormongers think Semin will magically turn into a superstar once he’s exposed to the Wings aura? Do they think Pavel Datsyuk will take Semin under his wing and turn him into a Selke candidate? And if Holland actually were interested in Semin, why waste assets on him this season, when he could be signed as a UFA next summer, when Holland will have over $23 million in available cap space and no stars of his own to re-sign? Honestly, the Wings could do better, much, much better, especially if it appears Zach Parise will test next summer’s market. Now, that’s a player who’d look good wearing the Winged Wheel.

MATCHSTICKS AND GASOLINE: Defenseman Cory Sarich wants out of Calgary. So, any takers for a slow-footed defenseman earning $3.6 million this season?

PUCKBANDITS: noted the Twittescape was buzzing over a rumor which had the Montreal Canadiens shipping Max Pacioretty, Yannick Weber and a first round pick to Calgary for Jarome Iginla.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What, they’re not gonna trade them to Washington for scoring machine Alexander Semin? Must be because the Red Wings are about to get ’em. Of course, Iginla would go to Montreal, since they fit the bill of “Cup contender” he’s rumored to be interested in joining some day before his career ends. That’s sarcasm, by the way, for those of you who can’t recognize it in printed form. Dr Evil, your opinion of Iggy to Montreal? Sarcasm aside, there’s a very simple reason why this rumor is BS: cap space. The Canadiens are bumping against the cap ceiling this season. Iginla makes $7 million this season and next. Pacioretty and Weber combined make a little over $2.4 million this season. Do the math, kids, and that’s why this deal doesn’t happen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe they’ll trade him to Detroit, the destination for everyone this season. Or Montreal, where he’ll win a Stanley Cup this season… Actually, Brownlee raises a very good question regarding Hemsky’s future, and if he belongs in Edmonton. Please check it out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe Kirk will force management to trade Eric Staal or Jeff Skinner to Detroit or Montreal…sorry, sorry, I’ve gone too far now. Please check out AQ’s latest, she’s a die-hard Hurricanes fan and doesn’t shy away from giving her club a good slap-upside when they deserve it.

ARCTIC ICE HOCKEY: Looks at the Importance of Kyle Wellwood via his numbers this season, compared to those earlier in his career.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m genuinely pleased over how Wellwood has performed with the Jets this season, silencing his critics in the process. I think getting rejected by the KHL last season gave him a much-needed dose of maturity.

8 Comments

Old_Soldier
on December 2, 2011 at 8:31 pm

Sorry Lyle, I dont agree with you on Bure. I for one think that the HHOF has to have the highest of standards, and with the exception of Gretzky/Orr/Howe type players, all others need to be put under a microscope. Every player has fans and non-fans, and while in your opinion Bure belongs, in my opinion he was a one-dimensional player who was no different than several others of his generation, Mogilny, Selanne et al. I dont see him as more influential or worthy than Lindros, and I definately dont think Lindros deserves to be in either.

Oilersfan
on December 2, 2011 at 9:01 pm

Old_soilder.. Bure may be one dimensional but he was incredible at it, I guess you didn’t jump out of your seat when he was on a breakaway kicking the puck around at high speeds, scoring, and making goalies look like a extra post. He belongs in the hall, he was the best goal scorer in the league for a 10 year stretch. Gretzky said something about he wouldn’t of retired if he got a chance to play with him.. That should tell you something.

Dan
on December 2, 2011 at 11:52 pm

That was some of the best, and most warranted, sarcasm in print in recent memory. Kinda puts things into perspective without having to dispel out so much of this drivel that passes for “news” these days.

Phil
on December 3, 2011 at 3:06 am

Bure won’t be a Hall of famer cos he was not traded to Montreal or Detroit. 😉

Salvatore
on December 3, 2011 at 4:31 am

I can’t believe you used the words “hard-on” and “Semin” in the same sentence. That’s pretty funny and clever of you!

Paul
on December 3, 2011 at 3:35 pm

I think the think with the Wings and Semin is that they don’t need a super star but do need a top 6 scoring winger. Hulder, tuzzi and the newest scrap heap attempt in Fabian are not really doing the job and Cleary has to play over his head to do so.

On balance I think Detroit would trade for Semin but only if the Cap’s season stays south of the playoffs and Holland can mostly trade picks or maybe second tier prospects and spare parts like Hulder.

Given all the uncertainty going into next year with the CBA and Detroit’s defense I can see Detroit risking picks for a person who might score 30-40 goals, the bad rap only makes him that much cheaper. Overall it would be a low risk toss of the dice – Detroit losses picks maybe but takes on no real long term risk and still leaves its post season options open

Detroit won’t trade for Semin unless its the end of the world. I would like to see them get rid of Ericsson and Hudler for a good defensive forward who can win face offs on a consistent basis and who likes to hit people.

Also, what’s up with Hudler’s moustache? You think that thing would help his scoring by causing the opposing team to hit the ice laughing leaving him a semi-open net.

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